Personal portfolio computer

ABSTRACT

A personal portfolio computer having a primary utility as a record keeping and stock value calculating device is generally constructed in the form of an envelope with rectangularly shaped substantially flat sides being interconnected along the opposite longer parallel edges. In the assembled form, the two flat sides with transparent portions therein, is a pocket size envelope with a substantially flat slide located between the two sides and having a scale thereon so that it is visible through one of the transparent sides. The adjacent transparent side has a corresponding scale located thereon so that the slide may be manipulated for slide rule type calculations. The opposite side of the envelope structure has a record keeping means located between the two sides with the record keeping portion visibly apparent through the opposite transparent side, and with a portion of the record keeping means extending exteriorly of the transparent sides so that current data computed by the slide rule type structure may be recorded thereon. That portion of the permanent data on said record keeping means between said sides is protected by the presence of the transparent side.

United States Patent [191 Tucker [54] PERSONAL PORTFOLIO COMPUTER [76]Inventor: Joseph A. Tucker, 6340 Reeds Drive, Mission, Kans. 66202 [22]Filed: Aug. 16, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 171,958

Primary Examiner-Stephen J. Tomsky Attorney-Lowe, Kokjer, Kircher,Wharton and Bowman [4 1 Jan. 16, 1973 57 ABSTRACT A personal portfoliocomputer having a primary utility as a record keeping and stock valuecalculating device is generally constructed h the form of an envelopewith rectangularly shaped substantially flat sides being interconnectedalong the opposite longer parallel edges. In the assembled form, the twoflat sides with transparent portions therein, is a pocket size envelopewith a substantially flat slide located between the two sides and havinga scale thereon so that it is visible through .one of the transparentsides. The adjacent transparent side has a corresponding scale locatedthereon so that the slide may be manipulated for slide rule typecalculations. The opposite side of the envelope structure has a recordkeeping means located between the two sides with the record keepingportion visibly apparent through the opposite transparent side, and witha portion of the record keeping means ex tending exteriorly of thetransparent sides so that current data computed by the slide rule typestructure may be recorded thereon. That portion of the per manent dataon said record keeping means between said sides is protected by thepresence of the transparent side.

3 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJAN 1s I975 mummy-21.1-

INVENTOR Wake) Jasep ,4.

PERSONAL PORTFOLIO COMPUTER My recording and calculating device has beenconstructed to provide a quick and convenient pocket size computer thatwill enable the owner of stocks and bonds to quickly calculate thecurrent value, dividends and the per cent of investment returned.

In the past, various charts, graphs, and ticker tape strips or otherprinted out information in various combinations have been utilized toupdate the current value of stocks and bonds. For an'investor whomaintains a constant check on a number of investments, the computationnecessary to keep informed required the assemblage of some sort ofcalculator and an associated list of invested securities including thepertinent information concerning each individuals security be it commonstock, bonds or the like. As holdings are increased, it became almostnecessary to assemble the needed data in a brief case or desk drawer andto become involved in proliferous activity in arranging data, makingcalculations, and charting or otherwise recording the progression (orlack of it) in a particular stock or security portfolio.

My invention has obviated many of the abovedescribed difficulties andhas combined record keeping and calculating into a single device thatcan be conveniently carried in the breast or hip pocket and which helpsan investor calculate the current value and immediately afford a recordkeeping surface at the same time. The device will comprise an envelopeshaped structure with transparent side portions and with a slide ruletype C & D scale located on a center sliding member within the envelopestructure cooperating with the appropriate scale located on one of thesides of the envelope. The opposite envelope side will have a stockchart with permanent information on the chart located between the sidesof the envelope structure and visibly apparent through the oppositetransparent side and with a portion of the chart extending exteriorly ofthe transparent side. This accessible chart portion is located towardsthe central portion of the opposite side for recording currentinformation such as changes in value, per cent return, etc. In thisfashion, both calculating and record keeping device are combined into asingle inexpensive and convenient to use structure and cooperate in aunique fashion to utilize needed features of the combined structure.

A primary object of my device is to provide a uniquely constructedcombination record recording and calculating device. It is a feature ofmy invention that both of the above-mentioned functions are combined ina structure which is of sufficient size to be easily carried on theperson of an individual investor.

Another object of my invention is to provide a device of the characterdescribed which provides'for billboard space for advertising and whichserves as a constant reminder to the user of certain services, such asbrokerage services, which may be needed by one utilizing the device.

A further object of my invention is to provide a combination recordingand calculating device suitable for calculating and recording currentvalue of stocks, bonds and percent of invested return.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a uniquelyconstructed recording and calculating device which is small enough to becarried in a mans pocket I of a ladies pocket book while at the sametime being rugged enough to withstand repeated use.

Other and further objects of the invention, together with the featuresof novelty appurtenant thereto, will appear in the course of thefollowing description.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In the accompanying drawing, whichforms a part of the specification and is to be read in conjunctiontherewith and in which like reference numerals are employed to indicatelike parts in the various views:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the record keeping portion of mycombined recording and calculating device;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of the calculating portion of my device;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the device shown in FIG. 1 takengenerally along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1 in the direction of the arrowswith a center portion broken away; and

FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view (reduced in size from that shown inFIG. 3) taken along the line 44 of FIG. 3 in the direction of thearrows.

Turning now more particularly to the drawing, reference numeral 10represents the transparent plastic material that forms a portion of oneof the sides of the envelope type structure. The transparent plasticindicated (by the numeral 10) occupies a substantial portion of the sideof the device that is used, in the main, for record keeping purposes andis generally rectangular in shape extending from the left-hand verticaledge (FIG. 1) to the right-hand vertical edge thereof and to the upperand lower portions of the record keeping side eventually terminating instrips of opaque reinforcing or binding material 11 (at the upperportion) and 12 (at the lower portion).

As seen in FIG. 3, this opaque material may have a gummed surfacesimilar to binding tape or the like and when applied to the edge sidesurface portions will be shaped somewhat similar to an enlargedhorizontal .I (FIG. 4). This binder will extend over the upper (as inFIG. 1) edge of the device and bind (or help to bind) the oppositetransparent side portion 13 which accommodates the utilization of acalculating device in the form of a conventional slide rule scale.Further, the FIGS. 2 and 4 clearly indicate that the opaque bindingmaterial will extend further towards the center of the transparent side13 then on the transparent record keeping side 10 so that a more narrowwindow" is available on side 13 than on side 10.

For further reinforcing purposes, a rectangularly shaped card slightlysmaller than the envelope structure itself will be fixedly positionedbetween the upper and lower rounded edge portions of opaque binders (l1and I2) and will have at least the right-hand portion thereof visiblethroughthe transparent plastic side 10. This reinforcing card alsoserves as a means for connecting the record keeping charts as well assupplying convenient billboard space for advertising purposes on thepreviously mentioned right-hand card portion.

The numeral 15 is used to indicate a slidable card that is similar inshape to the reinforcing card 14 but slightlysmaller in order tofacilitate the reciprocating movement of same with respect to theenvelope structure. The slide card 15 has a scale 15a located thereonwhich cooperates with a similar scale 130 on the calculating side of theenvelope (transparent side 13) to perform usual slide rule calculations.It is also contemplated that the size of the transparent portion of side13 be large enough to permit additional billboard space on the slidecard 15 for observation therethrough. This billboard space may serve'asa display area for either advertising indicia or operating instructionson the device. Further, the enlarged lower binder area 11 and 12 mayusually be used as a billboard for the same or similar purposes.

Returning now once again to the data recording side of the envelope, itwas suggested that the suitable charts for recording necessaryinformation would be attached (by glueing, stapling, etc.) to thereinforcing card 14 for utilization therewith. The envelope structureand reinforcing board combination, permits a single card or group ofcards with a cart imprinted thereon (generally indicated by the numeral16) to be attached at its left-hand portion thereof to the reinforcingcard between the outer surface of same and the inner surface of thetransparent side 10. In this manner, the cards (or group of cards) willbe suitably ruled to coin- V cide with a column designation which may beimprinted on the appropriate binder surface 11 thereby permitting thedata to be recorded on the left-hand card portion and to be protected bythe transparent side 10. The right-hand portion of the card (or group ofcards) will be permitted to extend exteriorly of the transparent side ata location slightly less than one half the length of the envelopestructure. This is permitted by a vertical slit 10a in the transparentplastic. In this manner, the right-hand portion of the card 16 may beused to to record current information and changes with respect to alisted security (stocks or bonds) which has been recorded on theleft-hand column of the card enclosed by the envelope structure andbehind the transparent plastic side 10.

It is contemplated that the above-described structure could bemanufactured in several forms and not depart from the spirit ofthe'invention. For instance, the transparent sides could be an endlessloop of transparent plastic which has been appropriately sized andpressed substantially flat. Alternatively, the structure could bemanufactured from individual sheets of plastic with appropriate bindersapplied at the edge portions to facilitate the interconnection of sameinto the envelope structure. Also, the reinforcing cardboard and slidemember card could be manufactured from various materials and is notlimited to the utilization of cardboardas it could well be made entirelyof plastic with the appropriate scales advertising indicia andinformational material imprinted directly thereon.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that this invention is one welladapted to attain'all of the ends and objects hereinabove set forthtogether with other advantages which are obvious and which are inherentto the structure.

It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are ofutility and may be employed without reference to other features andsu'bcombinations.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the invention withoutdeparting from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matterherein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawing is to interpretedas illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim: l. A recording andcalculating device comprising an envelope type structure having at leasttwo substantially flat sides with transparent portions therein, each oneof said sides having at least two edges that interconnect with the otherside and two edges that are open thereby forming said envelopestructure, 1 substantially flat member located between said sides andslidably movable with respect'thereto so that a portion of said membermay slidably extend out of said opened edges of said envelope structure,said flat member having acalculating scale thereon which is visiblethrough said transparent portion of one of said sides, said sideadjacent said visible scale having a scale located thereon thatcooperates with said sliding member scale to facilitate in making sliderule type calculations, a means for recording data thereon, said meanshaving a first portion located between said sides, said first portionbeing visible through said other tra'nsparent side portion, said othertransparent side portion having an opening intermediate said open edgesthereby permitting a second portion of said data recording means toextend therethrough and to be accessible from the exterior of saidenvelope .for recording further data atleast a part of which iscomputable by the utilization of said scales.

2. The combination as in claim 1 wherein said envelope structureincludes a reinforcing card located between the two interconnectededges.

3. The combination as in claim 2 wherein said'means for recording saiddata is fixedly attached at a first edge portion thereof to saidreinforcing card, said data recording means having a second edge portionopposite said first edge portion which extends through an opening insaid other transparent side portion, said data recording means therebyhaving one portion covered by said transparent other side and visibletherethrough as well as a second portion which is supported forrecording purposes on the exterior of said envelope.

1. A recording and calculating device comPrising an envelope typestructure having at least two substantially flat sides with transparentportions therein, each one of said sides having at least two edges thatinterconnect with the other side and two edges that are open therebyforming said envelope structure, a substantially flat member locatedbetween said sides and slidably movable with respect thereto so that aportion of said member may slidably extend out of said opened edges ofsaid envelope structure, said flat member having a calculating scalethereon which is visible through said transparent portion of one of saidsides, said side adjacent said visible scale having a scale locatedthereon that cooperates with said sliding member scale to facilitate inmaking slide rule type calculations, a means for recording data thereon,said means having a first portion located between said sides, said firstportion being visible through said other transparent side portion, saidother transparent side portion having an opening intermediate said openedges thereby permitting a second portion of said data recording meansto extend therethrough and to be accessible from the exterior of saidenvelope for recording further data at least a part of which iscomputable by the utilization of said scales.
 2. The combination as inclaim 1 wherein said envelope structure includes a reinforcing cardlocated between the two interconnected edges.
 3. The combination as inclaim 2 wherein said means for recording said data is fixedly attachedat a first edge portion thereof to said reinforcing card, said datarecording means having a second edge portion opposite said first edgeportion which extends through an opening in said other transparent sideportion, said data recording means thereby having one portion covered bysaid transparent other side and visible therethrough as well as a secondportion which is supported for recording purposes on the exterior ofsaid envelope.